I came down the stairs last the next morning. Most of the lab residents had eaten, so I had the table to myself. Almost.

"Lovrina? Is that you?" Wes asked. He was wolfing down his breakfast. He must have starved in the intermediate time.

"Yes. You didn't think I'd keep those… things… that Cipher gave me, did you?" I had replaced my skin-tight one-piece of a dress with a white one that actually resembled something that was sensible. It also happened to look like Rui's. My pink, floor-length hair had been cut and dyed to be brown and shoulder length. I actually looked more like a girl than a doll.

"Sorry. Thought the old design was your idea."

"That's alright. I've got stuff to apologise for anyway. Wes… about me stealing your Snag Machine…"

"You had no other choice besides continue to help your captors. But did you have to be so heartless about it?"

"You're a legendary hero. Greevil probably had 24/7 recordings of that cell. If he saw me being nice… not acting like an airhead was already too risky."

"Suppose. Ooh…" Wes suddenly gripped his left arm in pain. I rushed to it, and elevated it. I saw fresh scars running along it.

"…These don't like the electric cell did it. They almost look like…"

"Yes. This happened when you took the Snag Machine bare."

"I learned that lesson the hard way." I held up my own left arm. The Snag Machine's scars ran along mine, too.

"When did you?"

"Before I fought Michael on Citadark. I needed to lose the Snag Machine. I didn't know about this."

Wes winced in sympathy.

"Well… it's all better now. Water under the bridge?" Wes held out his good arm. I grabbed it with mine, and we shook.

"So, Lovrina…"

"Ashley. My name's Ashley."

"Suppose Cipher gave you that name, too?"

"Yep."

"Figures as much. You going to see Michael?"

"Yep."

"He's out the back. He's finally able to relax after all Cipher has put him through. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some relaxing of my own to do." I watched as Wes went back to his bedroom. This was probably as close to Wes as I was going to get, but he had pretty much given his blessing to court Michael.

"Hey, Michael." I said. Michael gave a small start, but immediately relaxed in my presence. I took a seat in the chair next to his. Springtime bounded up, and curled into my lap. Giggling slightly, I stroked her behind the ears.

"Ashley? You look different."

"Yeah… the whole Cipher look wasn't cutting it."

"It suits you. You always struck me as more hardened than that." I smiled. Springtime got up, and looked directly at me.

"At least Springtime's taken a shine to you." I smiled. Michael's treasured Springtime liked me. And I'm sure he did, as well. His next words confirmed it.

"Not as much as I did, though." I looked over at him. "Ashley... come over here." I got up, and managed to get myself into Michael's chair. Or at least, on his lap. His grip was surprisingly warm.

"I know you must have suffered heaps over the last ten years." I nodded, and Michael patted my back. "Not any more. You can stay with us. One big, happy family. Wes is back. You're here."

I stirred in his lap. Michael's family, huh?

So yeah, the story of Mysterious Encounter, told from the perspective of the Snagger. It was one idea I had kicking around, and the one I chose to do for my birthday.

On of the others was the Mewtwo story, but I can't quite make that feel like it deserves it's own story, but I can't do it the justice of a passing mention.

...So, do I sign out?